Chicago Bulls guard Anfernee Simons (22) shoots against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at United Center.
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Anfernee Simons is looking forward to the opportunity of playing alongside LeBron James on the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
Simons is gearing up for the ninth season of his career, his first with the 76ers. He played half of last year with the Boston Celtics before they sent him to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic. He was a on a contract year as he went into free agency and joined Philadelphia.
James announced his choice to join the 76ers, signing a two-year deal that includes a player option in the second year. This marks his 24th and possibly 25th seasons in the NBA, a historic record that will be difficult for future players to achieve.
Simons made an appearance on the Cousins podcast with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. He showed his reaction towards James going to Philadelphia, expressing shock regarding the news.
“I mean obviously you see everything that’s going on like in the media and stuff so you see like that you know, LeBron could potentially go there and you know, to me I gotta see it to believe it. So, I forgot what I was doing. I might have been working out or actually I woke up. I just woke up and I saw the news and I was like, “Dang, this is crazy,” Simons said.
Anfernee Simons on LeBron James joining Philly:
“I mean obviously you see everything that’s going on like in the media and stuff so you see like that you know, LeBron could potentially go there and you know, to me I gotta see it to believe it. So, I forgot what I was doing. I… pic.twitter.com/QoBhz2xqWq
What lies ahead for Anfernee Simons, 76ers
Anfernee Simons has goals to be a key player off the bench for the 76ers. With LeBron James in the picture, the team's championship ceiling looks better than ever.
Philadelphia finished with a 45-37 record last season, securing the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference standings. They stunned the Boston Celtics in a 3-1 series comeback before losing in a four-game sweep to the New York Knicks in the East Semifinals.
The 76ers are gearing up for a big season with championship aspirations. With a starting five that can strike fear into opponents when healthy, Philadelphia fans can prepare for the opportunity to compete for their first NBA championship since 1983.